The plummet from perfection to calamity came quickly for Boxofchocolates, but as her name would suggest the mare’s camp has taken it all in their stride and is ready to bounce back at Bendigo tonight.

Trainer Kent Harpley, who joined Jason Bonnington on SENTrack to preview tonight’s hit-out, was quick to put his hand up about his mare’s last-start failure, which broke the stunning six-race winning streak that started her career.

Boxofchocolates, who is favourite to win tonight’s Alabar Bloodstock Pace at 8pm, last raced on October 17 in the $20,000 Allied Express Pace when she started a $2.10 favourite for owner-breeder John Campbell.

“We didn’t have a really good trip down, we had a flat tyre, traffic never stops,” Harpley told SENTrack. “And then when we got there, she ate her tongue tie off and then when we went back into the box – and I should have scratched her – she hit her head and that was the end of her.

“I feel sorry for the punters and the people that back her and her owners, I made a mistake and had to wear it all the way home. My niece (Taylor Youl) was into me all the way from Melton to 10km out of Bendigo. I was trying too hard I think. She goes better than what she put out on that night.”

The interrupted lead-in played out in the race, with Boxofchocolates tiring in the run and later found to have suffered a cardiac arrythmia, which would require her to trial before racing again.

She did that at Bendigo on November 9, when according to Craig Rail’s Trial File she “began very quickly to lead, took a trail at the 1500m and pulled hard but accelerated beautifully when allowed to stride from the 500-metre mark, scoring easily”.

It has Harpley optimistic about the five-year-old's chances tonight, stressing she took “no harm at all” from her last race mishap.

He said she would now have a short racing stint before being given a longer spell to ready for elite racing down the track.

“We probably would have been in the paddock if we didn’t have this little setback (but) we had to trial,” he said.

“Now we might only give her this start, or a couple. We’ve got a lovely paddock for her. John (Campbell) will take her, we will build her up a little bit, because she’s done it more or less straight through, and then look for better races next year.”

TALKING TROTS ON SENTRACK:

Listen weekdays to Talking Trots on Track from 11am to 1pm on SENTrack, which airs on 1593AM in Melbourne, 1539AM in Sydney, 657AM in Perth, 801AM in Gosford, 96.9FM in Ingham, 99.1FM in Atherton and 1575AM in Wollongong.

Click here to listen live and for links to download the SEN app.

TUNE IN at BENDIGO

First Race: 5.22pm Last Race: 10.30pm
Host/Racecaller: Lachie McIntosh.
Trots Vision: WATCH LIVE
SEN Track: WATCH LIVE
RSN 927: LISTEN LIVE

ROB AUBER ON BENDIGO

RACE 4: RACE SERVICES 2YO VICBRED PACE
EARLY SPEED:
1,4,5
SELECTIONS:
VINTAGE BLU (5) HELANSIN (8) FIGHTNFURY (1) LE BELLE BIJOUX (6)
RATINGS:
5 / 8 / 1 / 6 / 7 / 4 / 2 / 9 / 3
SUGGESTED BET:
VINTAGE BLU (5) to Win

For tips and speedmaps for all races visit Good Form at thetrots.com.au

This week's winners sired by Woodlands Stud stallions
I'm Bills Last by Sweet Lou out of Collecting at Bathurst 
I Dream Of Jeanie by Pegasus Spur out of Countessa Galleon at Addington
Canstar by Bettor's Delight out of Starlet Lavra at Addington
Steel The Show by Bettor's Delight out of Steel The Light at Addington
Pace N  Pride by Bettor's Delight out of Maid In Splendour at Addington
Spankem by Bettor's Delight out of Crushem at Addington
Sweet Treat by Sweet Lou out of Vengance at Auckland 
Copy N  Pace by American Ideal out of Readallaboutit at Gloucester Park
All Star Lavros by Bettor's Delight out of Nefelli Lavra at Mildura
Soho Brandenburg by Bettor's Delight out of Soho Berlin by Newcastle 
Prestige Stride by Sweet Lou out of Bee Jay's Money at Kilmore
Sweet Louise by Sweet Lou out of Artistic Dancer at Melton 
Breed your next winner with Woodlands Stud, supporter of Trots Centre
...

...

The good oil from the Vic trials circuit

Bendigo, R2 N1, Sassys A Terror
Began quickly and was able to angle in behind the leader POLLY PEACHUM around the first corner. She raced greenly on the first corner but settled a lot better mid-race. She used the sprint lane, drove through nicely and appeared to have plenty left in reserve. REPORT & REPLAY
BLACKBOOKER: Bendigo, R4 N5, Vintage Blu
Trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and came wide into the straight when he motored home to impressively win the opening trial. REPORT & REPLAY